The oldest legible signature around here is one from 1864 found in Preston Cave III. I suspect that some local markings are significantly older, and at least one cave contains etchings assumed to have been made by native Americans. Easily visible dates from the 1880s are present in quite a few small southern Ohio caves.

The most FAMOUS one I've seen probably is Irene Ryan's signature on a wall in Mammoth Cave (she was Grandma on the "Beverly Hillbillies" for trivia buffs). I think it is dated 1929ish...which would make her 27 years old at the time. She already was known as an actress. This was done before Mammoth became a National Park in 1941. And I know there are signatures from folks like R. Stebbins and Mary Coxe that date to 1850. My favorite (and someone can supply accurate names) is a cave in Kentucky near an important Civil War battlefield where there are names like Johnny Reb CSA written on the wall from 1862 and carved over Johnny Reb's signature are some names like Billy Yankee, 3rd Ohio, US Cavalry. Obviously, men from both sides found and explored the cave.

Check that - the oldest (historic) signature I've seen would be the Geo. Washington signature (yes, it was real) in the cave of the same name near Harpers Ferry, WV. Unfortunately, it has been totally defaced by local high schoolers since I first saw it in the 70s.

Caving Guru wrote:So what's the oldest dated signature that you have seen in a cave and which cave did you see it in?

For me it is probably the 1897 signature in Rupert's Cave in Pennsylvania.

Where did you see this signature Guru? There's a 1872 date in the Ballroom and I found a 1851 date near the keyhole recently.

ohiocaver wrote:Check that - the oldest (historic) signature I've seen would be the Geo. Washington signature (yes, it was real) in the cave of the same name near Harpers Ferry, WV. Unfortunately, it has been totally defaced by local high schoolers since I first saw it in the 70s.

I too have seen this signature first hand and have a picture of it. The cave was in pretty good shape when I was there circa 1984ish. It would be a shame for this historical signature to be ruined by the ignorant!